The Michigan Daily

David Nacht, a Scio Township attorney, and Washtenaw County Road Commissioner Pam Byrnes have both pledged to make education a centerpiece of their terms in Lansing, if they are elected to the state House. The two candidates are eager to arrive in Lansing and believe that they are uniquely qualified to represent the district's interests in the state Legislature. While both candidates have clearly illustrated their support for education and other aspects of a progressive agenda, such as prescription drug benefits for the elderly, these similarities should not obscure the crucial differences between these two candidates.

Byrnes has recognized that legislators cannot idly watch the state's financial situation escalate into a full-blown crisis. She is open to reversing the state's tax cuts in order to provide needed funding for the state's coffers. Nacht, on the other hand, has committed himself to supporting the states' tax cuts, despite the fiscal turmoil that has disrupted state projects and put the health of the state's economy in jeopardy. Nacht has also argued that the state's single business tax should be repealed. In these lean times, this tax revenue is important to fund government projects and ensure the welfare of Michigan's citizens. Byrnes staunchly opposes any repeal of the single business tax under the current economic climate.

Other positive attributes of Byrnes include her strong pro-choice beliefs, which have earned her the endorsement of EMILY's List. She is also an unapologetic supporter of unions and as a result has earned both the endorsements of the the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers. Byrne's familiarity with the intricacies of the district and her experience in local government make her the strongest candidate to represent the district in Lansing.

On the Republican side of the ballot, two-term state Rep. Gene DeRosset of Saline is pitted against Ingrid Caroline Depp, a local farmer. DeRosset has access to significant campaign contributions and is the heavy favorite to win the primary against Depp. Both candidates believe that the district must prevent urban sprawl and maintain the district's high quality of life standards. With rapid growth throughout the district, planning issues will be of central importance for the future of the region. It is a positive sign that both the Democratic and Republican primary candidates have recognized the need to balance growth and sprawl in the district.

However, neither of the Republican candidates for the state House has renounced the Republican Party's exclusionary social conservatism. They both fail to offer adequate challenges to the Republican status quo.

The Michigan Daily endorses Pam Byrnes as the Democratic nominee for the 52nd District's representative in the state House and refrains from endorsing a candidate for the Republican nomination for the 52nd District.

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